12th Judicial District Nominating Commission appoints magistrate judge for Jewell County

TOPEKA—The 12th Judicial District Nominating Commission today appointed Kevin Phillips as the district magistrate judge in Jewell County.

The 12th Judicial District is composed of Cloud, Jewell, Lincoln, Mitchell, Republic, and Washington counties.

The district magistrate judge may be given assignments anywhere in the district.

Phillips, of Mankato, is the current district magistrate judge for Jewell County. He was a lawyer in private practice before first being appointed as the magistrate judge in June 2017.

A nominee for district magistrate judge must be:

• a graduate of a high school, a secondary school, or the equivalent;

• a resident of Jewell County at the time of taking office and while holding office;

• and either a lawyer admitted to practice in Kansas, or able to pass an examination given by the Supreme Court to become certified within 18 months.

After serving one year in office, the new magistrate judge must stand for a retention vote in the next general election to remain in the position. If retained, the incumbent will serve a four-year term.

The 12th Judicial District Nominating Commission consists of Justice Caleb Stegall as the nonvoting chair; Carol Good of Barnard; William Navis of Belleville; Dwight Daniels and Jerry Harrison of Beloit; Dana Brewer and Bradley Lowell of Concordia; Tanner Johnson of Courtland; Daniel Metz of Lincoln; Rick Diamond and Darrell Miller of Mankato; Bruce Meyer of Palmer; and Regine Thompson of Scandia.